Furnace construction



June 20, 1933. J. H. FICHTER FURNACE CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 19, 1929 4Sheets-Sheet l m n Mm.

\N E Q% \Q h Q Q L j INVENTOR ll-mes /7 F ATTORNEY June 20, 1933.FlcHTER 1,915,056

FURNACE CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 19, 1929 4 sheets sheet 2 INVENTOR.Zzmes Hhfir ATTORN EY June 20, 1933. J. H. FIGHTER 1,915,056

FURNACE CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Will!" I n 3 L 16 18 ga mmumw!ATTORNEY June 20, 1933.

J. H. FI CHTER FURNACE CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 19, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOR .fameg Hi /0717if ATTORNEY Patented June 20, 1933 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE JAMES H. FIGHTER. OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO

THE PATENT AND LICENSING CORPORATION, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A COR-.

PORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS FURNACE CONSTRUCTION Application filedNovember 19, 1929. Serial No. 408,284.

This invention relates to an improved furnace construction inassociation with an improved form of burner therefor and is designedparticularly for the heating of various substances that are required tobe heated to relatively high temperatures in various industrial heatingoperations. The arrangement as provided by my invention finds oneparticular adaptation in the heating of viscous materials such asasphalt, tar, pitches and the like to high temperatures, as for example,heating asphalt of 100 to 200 F. melting point to temperatures of 600 to700 F.

One object of my invention is to provide a furnace construction and gasburner design so arranged as to eliminate the occurrence of air and gasStratification whereby to secure more perfect and uniform combustion andconsequently more eflicient heating.

Another object of the invention is to provide an arrangementof thecharacter described wherein the explosive combustible fuel mixture isconfined to a zone of the furnace under conditions which will avoidinterference with combustion'by the cooling influence of the object orvessel containing the material to be heated, such for example, as theshell of a boiler, or tank of asphalt.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of refractorybaffling members within the furnace or combustion chamber arranged so asto protect the nozzles of the burner against distortion or destructionby the intense heat generated within the combustion chamber.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a burner designhaving associated therewith a carbureting device of simple constructionand eflicient operation for ensuring exact adjustment in the ratio ofthe volume of gas to the volume of air forming the combustible mixture.

Still a further object of the invention resides in the provision ofmeans in association with the carbureting device of the burner,responsive to the temperature or other conditions in the furnace, formaintaining the desired predetermined temperatures within the combustionchamber.

The foregoing and other objects of the in vention, .as well as numerousadvantages thereof, will more clearly appear from the more detaileddescription to follow and from the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure1 1s a View partly in section and partly in elevation showing the burnerconstructed according to my invention and its disposition in thefurnace.

Figure 2 is a transverse cross-section through the furnace.

Figure 3 is a view in plan thereof.

Figure 4 is a similar view with certain of the parts removed.

Figure 5 illustrates the burner and the carburetor, in side. elevation.

Figure 6 is a detail of one of the parts of the carbureting device.

Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 are transverse sections through Figure 5 takenalong the lines indicated by corresponding numerals.

Figures 11 and 12 are details of the arrangement for adjusting therelative flow of gas and air to the burner.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates theside walls of the furnace, and the numeral 11 indicates the horizontalspan of brick work which supports the burner 12, the latter beingembeded in this brick work as shown, intermediate the walls 10. Theburner is preferably in the form of a cylindrical pipe extendingsubstantially the full length of the furnace, with a portion of theupper periphery of the burner projecting above the uppermost row ofbricks in the horizontal span 11.

One of the important features of the construction provided by myinvention resides in the arrangement of the refractive material uponthefloor or support 11. For this purpose, refractory material is built upover the upper peripheral surface of the burner 12 in a layer ofsubstantial thickness as shown at 13 extending laterally of the burnerfor a slight distance, and having the upper surface thereof horizontal.The refractory material at both sides of the intermediate portion 13 isinclined upwardly to form the inclined walls 14 and 15, these wallsextending upwardly for a substantial distance above the top of theintermediate layer 13, and terminating with right angular depressions 16andlT respectively. The right angular depressions 16 and 17 thus formedin the refractory material to either side of the burner, constitutesupporting surfaces for refractory ballie members or bricks 18 and 19respectively, these bafiles being inclined upwardly toward each otherand extending over and beyond the respect-he inclined walls 14 and ofthe supporting refractory material. The upper horizontal surface of theintermediate portion 13 supports a row of horizontally disposedrefractory bricks 20 upon which are laid a row of similar bricks 21which are set thereon edgewise along the center of the horizontal row20.

The upper peripheral surface of the burner 12 is provided with twolongitudinal rows of spaced openings 22, 23 through which project thenozzles 24, 25 respectively, the :u-rangement being such that thesenozzles extend in upwardly inclined directions through the intermediateportion of refractory material 13, and substantially parallel to thewalls 1-1 and 15jwhen the burner is in place in the furnace. The nozzlesform part of the burner. By the aforedescribed relative arrangement ofthe burner nozzles and the refractory ballles, there is provided a moreor less restrained course for the combustion gases, as well as a barrierbetween the two rows of nozzles functioning to protect these nozzlesagainst distortion or destruction by the heat generated in thecombustion zone. Furthermore, this arrangement of the refractory bafllesprovides an ignition medium and contributes to the maintenance of auniform temperature throughout the length of the retort.

One end of the burner 12 is closed as by means of a screw cap 27 whilethe opposite end thereof, eXteriorly of the furnace, is connected as bymeans of a flange 28 to a carbureting device indicated generally by thenumeral 30. The carburetor mechanism preferably consists of acylindrical pipe or chamber ill having a flange 32 at one end forconnection with flange 28 of the burner, the opposite end being closedby a plate 33 secured to a flange 34. The plate 33 is provided with acentral opening 35 through which extends an air supply line 36, thissupply line projecting into the chamber 31 and terminat ing slightlyinwardly of the flange 32. The air supply pipe 36, near its forward openend, has fixed thereon a perforated disc 37, the outer periphery ofwhich fits closely against the inner walls of the chamber 31 to define.a gas reservoir 38 in the annular space between the wall of the chamberand the feed pipe A cone-shaped baffle 39 is mounted within the chamber31 near the forward end thereof with the enlarged end of the baffleencircling the forward open end of the pipe 36. For the purpose ofpreventing premature ignition of the explosive fuel mixture in thecarburetor or gas reservoir 38, a screen 40 is mounted in front of thebafile 39 and preferably between the flanges 28 and A suitable gaseousfuel is delivered to the carburetor through a feed pipe 41.simultaneously with the feed of air under high pressure through the feedpipe 36, the air combining with the gas flowing from the reservoir 38through the perforations in the disc 37 and the mixture being drivenunder considerable force into the main body of the burner 12 from whereit is fed through nozzles 24E25 into the combustion (or ignition) zone.

Provision is made for adjusting the relative volume of gas and air fedto the earburetor, and likewise for regulating the flow of the fuelmixture in accordance with furnace conditions. For this purpose, the airfeed line 36 is provided with a valve or damper 42 and the gas feed line41 is provided with a similar valve or damper 43, these valves ordampers 42. 43 being fixed upon shafts 44, 45 respectively, which extendoutwardly of the respective feed -pipes. Fixed to the shaft 44 is a disc46 and a similar smaller disc 47 is fixed upon the shaft 45. A sprocketwheel 48 provided with an arcuate slot 49 is loosely mounted upon shaft44 and a similar smaller sprocket 50 provided with an arcuate slot 51 isloosely mounted upon the shaft 45. The ratio of the volume of air to thevolume of gas fed to the carburetor may thus be readily *aried bychanging the relative positions of the sprockets upon the damper shaftsand fixing this adjustment by means of set screws 5. passing through thearcuate slots in the sprockets and into the respective discs 46 and 47,which are fixed to the respective damper shafts. Having thus adjustedthe ratio of the volume of air and gas to provide as lean or as rich amixture as desired, the variations in the furnace conditions can becompensated for without changing the ratio as previously adjusted. Forthis purpose, I provide a sprocket chain 53, passing around thesprockets 48 and 49 so that when the latter have been set to desiredposition and secured to the discs, both discs and consequently both ofthe valves or dampers move in unison in one direction or the other.Actuation of the damper shafts in response to the furnace c0nditions maybe accomplished in any convenient way, and in the drawings I have shownconventionally an air motor or other similar device 54 responsive to thetemperature or other conditions in the furnace to actuate in onedirection or another, a lever 55 fulcrumed as at 56 and connected as at57 with the disc 47, whereby to cause the dampers to move in unison inresponse to the variations of the temperature or other conditions in thefurnace.

It will be understood of course that the vessel or other object to beheated will be mounted and suitably supported within the furnace abovethe refractory baflies, in a well known manner. o

It will be further understood that the installation may include aplurality of independent units as above described, each connected withits own carburetor, or all connected to a common carburetor.

Having thus described an embodiment of my invention, it will be obviousthat numerous changes or modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a furnace, a burner comprising a chamber having spaced rows ofnozzles proj ecting upwardly therefrom into the combustion zone, andrefractory material above the burner serving to shield one of said rowsof nozzles from the other row.

2. In a furnace, a burner comprising a chamber having spaced rows ofnozzles projecting upwardly therefrom into the combustion zone,refractory material disposed above the burner, said refractory materialcomprising an intermediate, portion shielding one of. said rows ofnozzles from the other row, and lateral portions extending outwardly ofsaid rows of nozzles and above the intermediate portion.

3. In a furnace, a-burner comprising a chamber having spaced rows ofnozzles projecting in opposite upwardly inclined directions therefrominto the combustion zone, refractory material disposed above the burner,said refractory material comprising an intermediate portion shieldingone of said rows of nozzles from the other row, and lateral portionsextending outwardly of said rows of nozzles and above the intermediateportion of refractory material, said lateral portions being formed withthe inner walls thereof inclined upwardly in substantial parallelism tothe respective rows of nozzles.

4. In a furnace, a burner comprising a chamber having spaced rows ofnozzles projecting in opposite upwardly inclined directions therefrominto the combustion zone, a body of refractory substance disposed abovethe burner, said refractory substance comprising an intermediate portionshielding one of said rows of nozzles from the other row, and lateralportions extending outwardly of said rows of nozzles and above theintermediate portion of refractory substance, said lateral portionsbeing formed with the inner walls thereof inclined upwardly insubstantial parallelism "to the respective rows of nozzles, refractorybaffle members supported on said intermediate portion, and refractorybaflie members supported on said lateral portions in upwardly inclineddirections with the inner ends thereof projecting beyond said inclinedwalls.

5. A gas burner comprising an elongated conduit having spaced rows ofnozzles projecting outwardly thereof, a carburetor associated therewith,said carburetor comprising a chamber, a perforated partition within saidchamber, an-air feed pipe extending into said chamber and beyond saidpartition and providing a passageway around the pipe, and a gas supplypipe connected to said passageway.

6. A gas burner comprising on elongated conduit having spaced rows ofnozzles projecting outwardly thereof, a carburetor associated therewith,said carburetor comprising a chamber, a perforated partition within saidchamber, an air feed pipe extending into said chamber and beyond saidpartition and providing an annular passageway around the pipe, a gassupply pipe connected to said passageway, and a battle for mixing airfrom said feed pipe and gas delivered by 5 said passageway through theperforations in said partition.

7. A gas burner comprising an elongated conduit having spaced rows ofnozzles projecting outwardly thereof, a carburetor associated therewith,said carburetor comprising a chamber, a perforated partition within saidchamber, an air feed pipe extending into said chamber and beyond saidpartition and providing a passageway around the pipe, a gas feed pipeconnected to said passageway, dampers for said air and gas feedpipes,'and means permitting independent adjustment of said dampers tovary the composition of the fuel mixture.

'8. A gas burner comprising an elongated conduit having spaced rows ofnozzles projecting outwardly thereof, a carburetor associated therewith,said carburetor comprising a chamber, a perforated partition within saidchamber, an air feed pipe extending into said chamber and beyond saidpartition and providing a passageway between the pipe and chamber, a gasfeed pipe connected to said passageway, dampers for said air and gasfeed pipes, means permitting independent adiustment of said dampers tovary the composition of the fuel mixture, and means responsive tofurnace conditions for actuating said the intermediate portion,a'carburetor connected with said burner, air and gas feed lines leadingto said carburetor, dampers for said air and gas feedlines, and meanspermitting independent adjustment of said dampers to vary thecomposition of the fuel mixture.

10. In a furnace, a burner having spaced rows of nozzlesprojectingupwardly into the combustion zone, refractory materialdisposed above the burner, said refractory ma:

terial comprising an intermediate portion shielding one of said rows ofnozzles from the other row, and portions extending laterally of saidrows of nozzles, and extending above the intermediate portion, acarburetor connected with said burner, air and gas feed lines leading tosaid carburetor, and means responsive to the furnace conditions foractuating said dampers in unison.

11. In a furnace, a burner having spaced rows of nozzles projectingupwardly and outwardly into tlte combustion zone, refractory materialovei'ying the burner, said refractory material comprising anintermediate portion shielding one row of nozzles from the other row andlateral portions extending outwardly and above said rows of nozzles,said lateral portions having inclined upwardly and outwardly extendinginner walls, substantially parallel to the respective rows of nozzles.

12. A heating unit comprising an elongated chamber provided with aplurality of nozzles, a carburetor connected to one end of said chamber,said carburetor comprising a chamber, a perforated partition in saidchamber, a screen between said first mentioned and said second mentionedchambers, an air feed pipe in said carburetor chamber and spaced fromthe inner walls thereof, a gas feed pipe connected to said carburetorchamber, and a bafile between said partition and said screen adapted tomix the air and the gas.

Signed at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio this8th day of November A. D. 1929.

. JAMES H. FIGHTER.

